As calloused hands sailed their way through the folds of an emerald sea of fabric a sigh escaped pretty pink lips, swollen from the passion of a lover's kiss. Caleb paused, taking a moment to drink in the sweetness of her scent, and the beauty of her delicate features. Her brows knit together; and an expression of pleasure was replaced with an impatient scowl. When green eyes fluttered open to find brown eyes fixated upon her, a slow smile drifted across her face. The two remained that way, eyes locked on one another, each silently daring the other to make the first move. She felt her pulse race with anticipation as he leaned in closer, when his face broke into a triumphant smile she knew he had felt it too. Grinning, she kept her eyes locked on his and leaned in too, until nearly nothing separated their lips, and they were breathing the same breath.

"Caitlin?" Her father's voice called from just outside the barn.

Caleb jerked as though struck by lighting, and suddenly she was falling. Hitting the straw covered floor at the same that the heavy stable doors swung open, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out. Frozen with fear she watched Caleb's boots quickly stepped in front of her with a quick flick of the reigns his mare danced into position behind him. Together they shielded her from view.

"Mr. O'Connor." Caleb greeted the elderly man cordially.

"Caleb." Peter O'Connor greeted with a slight look of bewilderment. "I saw that Blackie made her way in here late last night, but didn't expect ta see the likes of you 'round here so soon."

As the sound of her father's voice drew closer Caitlin's breath caught in her throat. Slowly she crawled backwards on hands and knees, moving even deeper into the stall. Blackie sidestepped and stomped her feet at the sudden intrusion but quickly settled with the gentle stroke of Caleb's hand. Pressing herself into the corner she leaned her head against the boards, closed her eyes and began to pray that her father to be brief.

"Bit of a quick turn around this time." Caleb replied, trying his best to keep his tone even while nervous sweat collected along his brow.

O'Connor nodded, leaving it at that knowing full well that the less he knew the safer he and his family would be.

"Well I won't keep ya then. 'Slan abhaile." O'Conner answered.

Caleb smiled and nodded his thanks at the Irishman's farewell, though he had no idea what he had said. As Caitlin's father reached the end of the barn Caleb turned his eyes to the heavens and thanked whoever up there was listening.

"Oh, have ya seen Caitlin? Her mother said something about her going to clean the stables." O'Connor asked, turning to look back over his shoulder.

"No, I um…" Caleb stammered, "Haven't seen anyone." He replied, his cheeks flushing bright red. "Or ah, Caitlin," He coughed. "That is."

Mr. O'Connor eyed him for a long while, and it seemed to Caleb as if he were trying to decide between taking him at his word and investigating the matter further. Finally he nodded, and headed out the doors.

Caleb let out a rush of air as he breathed a sigh of relief. He pulled Blackie from the stall and found Caitlin wrestling with the buttons on the front of her dress. He stared at her with a quizzical expression, and she let out an exasperated sigh. "No sense in it now Caleb, he'll be back shortly if he doesn't find me." She explained. "Besides, the mood is gone now, don't ye think?"

Caleb smiled as she stood; her pretty face was crossed with sharp lines of pure frustration. Leaning in to kiss her he whispered, "Why don't we see if I can make it come back?" She dodged his kiss as she moved her hands to her hips.

"Ye'd best be on your way anyhow. Soon enough that forest is going to be full of redcoats on patrol."

"Lobsters don't scare me." He responded with a grin.

"Well they scare me plenty enough for the both of us then."

Not only was she right but Caleb also knew that she had made up her mind indefinitely about the matter and that arguing would be futile. He left a parting kiss on her cheek, and mounted his steed. "I'll be back soon." He promised.

"Slan abhaile, Brewster." She replied.

"I still have no idea what that means."

"It means travel safe."

He grinned down at her. "Always."

With a click of his tongue he urged Blackie forward. As horse and rider approached the doors of the stable Caleb turned and looked back one final time. She smiled at him and then he was gone. Caitlin closed her eyes and listened to the sound of the horse hooves thundering down the drive, carrying her lover away.

…

By the time Ben reached his tent he was beginning to feel woozy. Closing the tent flaps behind him he staggered over to his cot. Had it not been for his damaged ribs not, he more than likely would have simply collapsed onto the bed, but damaged his ribs were and so instead he slowly lowered himself onto the cot. While aching muscles celebrated their reprieve his stomach rebelled the instant his body became horizontal. He groaned; he just couldn't win today. Rolling over he hugged a pillow against his aching belly, and curled on his side into the fetal position. Soon his eyes began to drift closed.

As he slipped into a restless sleep, Billy quietly made his way into the tent. He watched as the young man's breathing quickened and slowed with the uneven rhythm typical of a fitful sleep. Occasionally it was broken by a soft moan or whimper, and then the major would grow quiet again. Having confirmed that Ben had made it back to the tent he turned to go, but felt suddenly compelled to offer the simple comfort of a cool cloth on a pale brow, glistening with sweat. As he did so bloodshot eyes cracked open and bore into his before sliding closed again.

A whisper of thanks was mumbled into the blankets, so soft Billy nearly missed it, and then the tent was silent once more. Outside the men bustled about and called to one another across the camp, but as they drew near to the ailing major's tent their voices lowered and their footsteps hurried past. Billy smiled to himself, word had spread that Major Tallmadge was to be left alone. A glance back at the sleeping form left Billy relatively confident that young man had no intentions of leaving the tent. He poured a glass of water and placed it on the table beside the major's bed before he left to discuss tonight's dinner preparations for the General and ranking staff with the camp cook.

…

Caleb's head dipped for the third time, jolting him awake. He glanced around at his surroundings, trying to judge just how long he had been asleep. To his pleasant surprise he found that Blackie had remained true to the route despite her sleeping rider. From the looks of it they were approximately 5 miles out from the Patriot lines, and another 10 from camp. With any luck he'd be back to camp within the next few hours. He widened his eyes and blinked rapidly, trying to force himself to wake up. Stifling a yawn he nudged the mare into an easy lope, hoping the faster pace would not only keep him awake, but also expedite the final leg of the journey. Blackie willingly complied and quickly advanced along well-worn deer path.

Despite the quickened pace, sleep deprivation caught with him once more. Soon his eyes grew heavy and he no longer bothered suppressing the yawns. On his last blink his eyes stayed closed just a tad more longer then usual and he felt himself beginning to nod off. As he was considering taking a short break, Blackie promptly came to a dead stop. His body lurched forwards and then backwards as his momentum came to a screeching halt. As he struggled to right himself Blackie let out scream and the suddenly the saddle beneath him went vertical, and then he was falling.

Clutching the reigns without thinking he caused Blackie's head to jerk to the side. Her body followed her head and soon the thousand pound animal was tumbling through the air with him. The second he struck the ground he was moving, trying desperately to get out of the horse's path. She fell hard, and rolled onto his right leg. He cried out as he felt his knee twist beneath her. Luckily the mare immediately set about righting herself again and quickly rolled off of him. He released the reigns and after a brief struggle she gathered her legs beneath her and stood, eyes rolling at the line of trees before them.

"What the hell's gotten into you?" Caleb growled bitterly as he gathered his hat from the ground and dusted it off.

Blackie's only response was a nostril flare, as her eyes remained deadlocked on the tree line. Caleb peered into the direction she was staring and noticed a large bolder covered in moss and fallen trees. "A rock? That's what's got you spooked?" He said with a grimace as he tried pulling his injured knee towards his body to stand. The knee, already beginning to swell refused to cooperate. Using his hands and good leg he slid backwards towards a tree as he formulated Plan B. Just as he was about to shove off against the firm trunk Blackie's ears flattened and he caught the flash of red as it came out from around the boulder.

…

Billy returned to Ben's tent to find the young officer doubled over and vomiting painfully into a basin. He stood patiently at the major's side. When the retching subsided Ben's eyes began to close, and he silently pressed a wet cloth into the major's hand. He regarded the cloth with a forlorn look, as though just holding the cloth took great effort. Finally with a sigh and trembling hands he lifted the moist cloth and drug it down the length of his face and neck before dropping it at his side. As Billy removed the basin he noted that the contents, though sparse had a sickly yellow tint to them.

"Your stomach's empty sir."

Ben only nodded as he continued to stare at a singular spot on the floor. Billy watched him evenly, waiting to see if the moment would pass.

"You gonna be sick again?" Billy asked when Ben didn't move.

Shaking his head Ben placed his elbows on his knees and pressed his forehead into the palms of his hands.

"Alright then, let's get you back to bed." Billy said softly, setting the basin down on the desk.

Ben nodded weakly at the suggestion, and began the process of lying down.

"How 'bout we take them boots off, and jacket. Might make you a bit more comfortable." Billy suggested. Ben nodded again and struggled to sit back up.

"It's alright sir, I've got it." Billy said, placing a gentle hand on the major's chest to stop him.

As Ben lay back Billy removed his boots, stacking one after the other alongside the cot. The major released his right arm from his uniform coat first, and then rolled to his side as Billy slipped off the left side. Hanging the coat on the chair he turned and pulled the covers up around the major's waist. Just as had he finished settling the blankets into place bright blue eyes flew open. Recognizing the look that followed Billy quickly reached for the basin once more, passing it off to the major just in time.

"Alright, let's get some food in you Major." Billy said with a sigh as the stomach spasms came to an end.

Ben shook his head at the idea.

"Your stomach's turning on itself, sir. That's why you keep getting sick."

The way Ben regarded him with watery eyes told Billy he was not convinced.

"Don't have to be a whole lot, maybe just a piece of bread, if you can manage." He encouraged the major.

Coming to the realization that he was desperate enough to try anything at this point, Ben relented with a slight nod of his head. Billy took the basin from his hands once more, swapping it out for the parcel he had placed on the desk upon returning from the cook's tent. He pulled back the paper and carefully ripped a small piece of bread from the loaf that was inside, handing it over to Ben who took it begrudgingly.

"Hardly seems worth it now, don't it?" Billy asked as Ben tentatively bit into the bread.

Suspecting that Billy was referring to his scrap with Bradford Ben weighed out his response carefully. While it was true that had he somehow known the fistfight would accumulate to how miserable he was feeling right now in this very moment, he more than likely would have chosen a different route, but there was also the issue that had he simply not accepted the brandy laced tea from Caleb a large portion of today's misery could have very well been avoided.

"He shouldn't have said those things about the Commander." He answered finally.

"Lots of people say things they shouldn't."

"That doesn't make it right."

"No, I suppose it don't." Billy agreed.

"I just wish Washington would see that." Ben said with a sigh.

At that Billy laughed. "Washington see's more then you think."